Picture the buzz of a packed conference centre in downtown Toronto, where regulators, operators and tech innovators mingle over coffee and crisp slides. That was the scene at the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) 2025 summit, and right in the middle of the chatter was a delegation from Cyprus, keen to prove that a small island can punch well above its weight in the world of gaming oversight.
Who rolled up their sleeves?
The Cypriot team was led by Dr. Pieris Chouridis, President of the Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission. He was joined by Vice‑President Marios Pieris, board member Kosmas Kosmas, and executive director Haris Tsangaridis. Together they represented a regulator that not only watches over a traditional casino market but also steers Europe’s only integrated casino resort – the City of Dreams Mediterranean.
Why Toronto mattered
The IAGR conference is the kind of gathering where ideas travel faster than the Toronto subway at rush hour. This year’s agenda zeroed in on three hot‑button topics that are reshaping the industry: artificial intelligence, regulatory technology (RegTech) and responsible gambling. Cyprus didn’t just listen – it took the podium to share its own playbook.
AI and RegTech: The new watchdogs
When Dr. Chouridis talked about artificial intelligence, he painted a picture of algorithms that sniff out irregular betting patterns faster than a seasoned pit boss can spot a loaded die. He argued that AI‑driven analytics can flag suspicious activity in real time, giving regulators a chance to intervene before a problem snowballs.
RegTech, the digital toolbox for compliance, was another centerpiece of the Cypriot pitch. The commission highlighted a pilot programme that automates licence renewals, cross‑checks operator reports against a central database, and even uses machine‑learning models to predict compliance gaps. In plain English, it’s about letting software do the grunt work so human inspectors can focus on the truly tricky cases.
Putting players first: Responsible gaming initiatives
Responsible gambling was the thread that tied everything together. Cyprus’s approach blends education, early‑intervention tools and close cooperation with operators. For example, the commission has rolled out a public awareness campaign that uses short videos on social media to teach players how to recognise the signs of problem gambling. At the same time, they’ve worked with the City of Dreams Mediterranean to embed self‑exclusion options directly into the casino’s loyalty app, making it as easy to take a break as it is to claim a free drink.
Regulators from other jurisdictions seemed particularly interested in how Cyprus balances strict oversight with a collaborative stance toward operators – a dance that can be tricky when profit margins are on the line.
The City of Dreams Mediterranean: A showcase case
Standing out in the conference hall was the Cyprus delegation’s reference to the City of Dreams Mediterranean, a sprawling integrated resort that combines a casino, hotel, retail promenade and entertainment venues under one roof. It’s the only project of its kind in Europe, and its regulatory model has become a talking point for many attendees.
Key takeaways from the resort’s oversight include:
- Real‑time monitoring of gaming tables via AI‑enabled cameras.
- Mandatory data sharing with the commission on high‑value transactions.
- A joint responsible‑gaming task force that meets monthly with casino management.
These measures, according to the Cypriot officials, have helped keep player‑related incidents below the EU average while still allowing the resort to thrive commercially.
Building bridges: International cooperation
Beyond the tech talk, the Cypriot team used the Toronto platform to push for deeper cross‑border collaboration. They urged fellow regulators to adopt common data standards, share best‑practice case studies, and perhaps most importantly, to speak a unified language when confronting challenges like illegal offshore betting or the rise of crypto‑based gambling platforms.
“We’re all navigating the same digital tide,” said Vice‑President Marios Pieris, “and the only way to stay afloat is to row together.”
What came out of the summit?
By the time the conference wrapped up, Cyprus had secured a few concrete outcomes:
- A memorandum of understanding with the Canadian regulator to pilot a joint AI‑risk‑assessment model.
- Invitation to host a RegTech workshop at the next IAGR meeting in 2026.
- Commitment from several European regulators to exchange anonymised player‑behavior data for research purposes.
These steps signal that the island’s regulator isn’t just talking the talk – it’s laying down tracks for future collaboration.
Quick reference: Cyprus at IAGR 2025
| Delegation Lead | Core Topics | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Pieris Chouridis (President) | Artificial Intelligence, RegTech, Responsible Gaming | AI pilot projects, RegTech automation, City of Dreams oversight model |
| Marios Pieris (Vice‑President) | International standards, data sharing | MoU with Canada, upcoming RegTech workshop invitation |
Looking ahead
The Toronto gathering was more than a networking event for Cyprus; it was a milestone in the island’s broader strategy to be seen as a forward‑thinking regulator on the global stage. By championing cutting‑edge technology, fostering responsible‑gaming culture and reaching out for international partnerships, the Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission is positioning itself as a model for other jurisdictions wrestling with the fast‑evolving digital gambling landscape.
So, the next time you hear about a new AI tool flagging a suspicious bet in a European casino, there’s a good chance the idea sprouted from a conversation that began in a Toronto conference room, with a handful of Cypriot officials eager to share what’s working for them.
